NAPERVILLE — The final full week of January produced a significant reshaping of the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) men’s basketball standings, as nationally ranked teams, milestone performances and late-game drama combined to compress the race at the top. 
 
Three’s Company: A Logjam at the Summit
Conference play tightened considerably following games last weekend and Wednesday, as Illinois Wesleyan, Carthage and Wheaton emerged from the week tied in the loss column at the top of the standings. 
 
Illinois Wesleyan entered Wednesday with a nine-game winning streak and a No. 12 national ranking before suffering its first conference loss since early December. The result created a three-way tie, with the Titans, Firebirds and Thunder each holding either 7-3 or 6-3 league records. Elmhurst remains within one game at 5-4, while Millikin and Augustana sit at .500, keeping the middle of the standings closely contested.
 
Firebirds Extend Run in Statement Win Over Titans
Carthage delivered the week’s most notable result with an 80-65 road win at Illinois Wesleyan on Wednesday. A decisive 12-point first-half run allowed the Firebirds to establish control and end the Titans’ longest winning streak since 2013. Ryan Johnson posted a 26-point, 12-rebound double-double, while Carthage finished plus-16 on the glass against the league’s top rebounding defense. Illinois Wesleyan was led by Karlo Colak’s 21 points.
 
Richardson’s Reign: A Weekly Award Hat Trick
Wheaton junior guard Soren Richardson earned his third CCIW Student-Athlete of the Week honor after leading the Thunder to two wins. Richardson scored 26 points in Saturday’s victory over North Park and added 21 points in a Wednesday win over Augustana, helping Wheaton move closer to first place. He ranks second in the conference in scoring (21.3 PPG) and steals (1.94 SPG), while also placing among the Division III leaders nationally in total points and points per game.
 
Overtime Agony and Buzzer-Beating Bliss
North Central’s fifth overtime game of the season ended in an 82-80 loss to Elmhurst last Saturday, decided on a last-second putback. After North Central tied the game late in overtime, Elmhurst converted an offensive rebound at the buzzer to secure the win. James Bullock Jr. led the Cardinals with 23 points, while Elmhurst’s Vinnie Adjahoungbeta recorded 18 points and 12 rebounds to keep the Bluejays firmly in the top-four conversation.
 
The Grand Club: Straughter Joins the Elite
Millikin’s Wednesday win over North Central featured a milestone performance from Nate Straughter, who surpassed 1,000 career points to become the 36th player in program history to reach the mark. Straughter’s achievement helped lift the Big Blue to a 64-55 victory, supported by 16 points from Chris Ketchum and 17 rebounds from Lane Thomann. Thomann’s effort moved his season average to 8.4 rebounds per game, third-best in the conference. Millikin currently ranks among the national top 100 in scoring defense and rebound margin.
 
Viking Valedictorians: Shooting for the Stars
North Park continued to showcase the conference’s top-scoring offense. The Vikings shot 63.8 percent from the field in an 84-82 win over Carroll on Wednesday, marking the CCIW’s best single-game shooting percentage since 2022. Mike Vuckovic posted 20 points and a conference season-high 12 assists. North Park leads the league in scoring offense and ranks 24th nationally, while Kolden Vanlandingham remains one of just 13 Division III players to record a triple-double this season.
 
Stat Kings and National Notables
Several CCIW players continue to rank prominently in national statistical categories. Illinois Wesleyan’s Noah Cleveland ranks among Division III leaders in total rebounds, rebounds per game and blocks, while also pacing the conference in double-doubles. Teammate Mason Funk leads the CCIW in blocks per game and anchors the nation’s top team block average. Carroll’s Michael McNabb ranks 30th nationally in scoring, and Illinois Wesleyan’s Jackson Niego sits 10th nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio.
 
The Road Ahead: High Stakes on the Horizon
Upcoming games could further shape the conference race, beginning with Carthage’s visit to North Park on Saturday and Illinois Wesleyan hosting North Central the same day. With the CCIW Tournament set to begin Feb. 24 and the top of the standings tightly packed, each remaining regular-season contest carries increased significance as teams jockey for positioning.